Cook Strait Swim, New Zealand

Friday, August 9, 2013

North Channel Swim....Here we come!

My crew and I will be heading to Ireland in two weeks to attempt my fifth swim of the Oceans Seven Challenge. I've already completed four of the solo swims: English Channel (England to France), Strait of Gibraltar (Spain to Africa), Catalina Channel (California) and the Tsugaru Strait (Japan). For the North Channel swim, I will have a one week slot with my boat pilot Quinton Nelson. I will start my swim from Donaghadee, Ireland and swim 21 miles to Portpatrick, Scotland. My slot is from August 27 to September 2, 2013. The North Channel will be my most difficult swim so far. The Irish Sea is known for their heavy seas, very cold water temperatures, and marine life. My biggest concern is the growing problem of jellyfish in the North Channel. Lion's mane jellyfish is the largest known species of jellyfish. Their body can be up to eight feet in diameter with tentacles over 120 feet long. These jelly fish are known to travel in large numbers. Their stings are extremely painful but usually not fatal. My crew (brother David and his wife Jeannie) are both in the medical field and they are well trained to deal with any crisis that may arise. During this swim there will be a unique set of challenges----- possible hypothermia and severe jellyfish stings. We have carefully planned a detailed response to each potential problem. At the age of 62, I feel strong and healthy. I continue to work 32 hours a week as a nurse and help care for my young grandchildren 40+ hours per week (ages 5, 2, and 1). I am very fortunate to have a great husband who supports my dream of completing the Ocean's Seven Challenge. Also, my children, Sarah and Tom, continue with their ongoing love and support. I want to thank my swim training partner, Yoko Aoshima, for her dedication to the sport of open water swimming. She has inspired me with her determination and great love of open water swimming. Yoko did not know how to swim five years ago. Now, she's a fast and talented open water swimmer. She's an amazing athlete!
If mother nature is on my side, I feel very confident that I have the ability to reach Scotland in approximately 18 hours. It is possible that I may set a record for the oldest swimmer. Crew member Jeannie will send text messages from the boat to my daughter Sarah who will place updated postings on my blog "Pat's Channel Swim". This swim will be an adventure of a lifetime...I'm greatly looking forward to it.

Go Grandma! You can do it, if you try!

Meet Pat Gallant-Charette, a native of Maine, Westbrook resident, University of Southern Maine graduate, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and full time nurse. In her spare time, 64 year old Pat is a marathon swimmer. In her first attempt of the English Channel, success was snatched from her grasp in July 2008. After swimming 16 hours in the Channel, with the lights in French homes encouraging her and still feeling strong, Pat fought impenetrable currents for four hours just 1.7 miles from the finish line. While Pat had made it across....and that was a dream come true...the ultimate challenge had eluded her. In 2009, prevaling winds prevented Pat from starting her second attempt of the English Channel. Pat returned to Maine determined to return to Dover for another attempt. She came late to the Gallant-Charette swimming club. Her son Tom was on the Westbrook High School swim team and her youngest brother, Robbie Gallant twice won the 2.4 mile Peaks to Portland swim. Robbie, just 34 years old, was a loving husband, and devoted father to three year old Christopher when he suffered a fatal heart attack fifteen years ago. Soon after Robbie's untimely death, Pat's son Tom said, "Ma, I'd like to swim the Peaks to Portland as a tribute to Uncle Robbie." Pat replied, "Tom, that's so sweet, I wish I could do the same." Looking at her encouragingly, Tom said, "You can, if you try." Those words inspired Pat to swim Peaks. At the age of 46 her fitness regime had consisted mainly of walking, but with a regular workout schedule at the local pool, Pat gradually built up her endurance. She met the qualifying requirement for the Peaks to Portland swim the following year. You can only imagine her emotion on finding her young nephew Christopher waiting for her at the end of that swim. Pat continues to enter the Peaks to Portland every year and Christopher, now a young man, cheers her on. That success encouraged her to seek other goals, including a double crossing of Maine's Big Sebago Lake (12 miles), the Great Chesapeake Bay swim (4.4 miles) and the Strait of Gibraltar swim (9 miles), where stroke by stroke Pat repeated her mantra, "You can, if you try". Then on June 16, 2010 Pat swam across the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain to Africa) in a time of 3 hours and 28 minutes. And much to her surprise, she placed 3rd fastest woman's time since 1928, set the U.S.Woman's record for fastest time, and the new record for the fastest time for any woman or man over the age of 50 worldwide. Pat nurtured the belief that she is capable of swimming the English Channel, considered by many to be the greatest test of a long distance swimmer. While nominally 20.7 miles, strong tides and currents in the Channel make the real distance covered by swimmers 30 miles or more. On August 22, 2011 Pat entered the English Channel determined to reach France. With her crew of brother David, sister-in-law Jeannie, and nephews' Kyle and Chris (Robbie's son), she reached her dream in a time of 15 hours and 57 minutes. Pat set the oldest American woman's record at the age of 60. The English Channel Swimming Association awarded her with the "Rosemary George Award for the 'Most Meritorious Swim of the Year' for 2011." Then, on October 18, 2011 Pat at the age of 60 set a new World Record for the Oldest Woman to swim from Catalina Island to the mainland of California ( 21 mile swim). She was accompanied by her crew: brother Bill and sister-in-law Jean. Her swim was dedicated to her brother Johnny who died at the age of seventeen in a tragic accident. Pat has written a children's book called, "Catalina...Oh, my! An Adventure Story." She is currently looking for a publisher for her completed 32 page picture book. Pat founded "Valentine's Day...Swim for your Heart." a global swim event to bring an awareness of heart disease and prevention. http://swimforyourheartfeb14.com She encourages swimmers worldwide to participate in thought and action by swimming on February 14. Swimmers donate to their favorite heart charity or program. In 2011 the "Daily News of Open Water Swimming" announced the nominees for the "World Open Water Swimmer, Woman of the Year" award. Pat at the age of 60 was nominated for this award. Twelve swimmers were nominated throughout the world for this distinct honor. Then in 2012 at the age of 61, she was nominated for World Open Water Swimmer, Woman of the Year" award. Also, in 2012 and 2013 she was selected as one of 101 women worldwide as "101 Movers and Shakers" in the world of open water swimming.....known as "open water ambassadors, spreading their enthusiasm and passion for the sport. ". Pat was inducted into the Maine Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame on April 12, 2014. Pat announced that she will attempt to swim the Oceans Seven Challenge. On September 13, 2012 she completed Japan's Tsugaru Strait (her fourth swim of the challenge) in a time of 19 hours and 36 minutes (33 miles) and set a world record for the oldest person to swim Tsugaru Strait. In August 2013 Pat attempted to swim the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland. After swimming for 16 hours and 43 minutes and less than one mile from the finish line, the tidal flow changed directions and prevented Pat from completing her swim. On January 24, 2014 Pat attempted to swim Cook Strait in New Zealand. Mother Nature provided very strong tidal flows preventing her from reaching the finish line after several hours of swimming. She will attempt Cook Strait at a later date and she will attempt the North Channel again in 2015. Also, she plans to swim Molakai Channel between the islands of Oahu and Molokai Islands in Hawaii the 7th swim of the challenge in 2016. Contact information: patgallant.charette@gmail.com

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